Fans will be happy to learn that the first official Harry Potter flagship store dedicated to the young wizard's magical world will open this year in the heart of New York City. Warner Bros. has announced that the new store will open this summer next to the iconic Flatiron building at 935 Broadway.
The 20,000 sq ft space will span three floors and will provide fans with a number of interactive experiences that evoke the magic of the Wizarding World. The store will house the largest collection of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts products in the world under one roof. This will range from personalised robes and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, to a brand-new range of house wands with a design exclusive to the New York location. According to reports, the store will also sell food and beverages, and there are even future plans for a themed café.
The store should be a great attraction as there is a huge worldwide community of Harry Potter fans, all of whom fell in love with the young wizard's magical universe back in 1997, when J.K. Rowling's first book was published. In the years since then, the seven Harry Potter bestsellers have inspired eight blockbuster movies, an award-winning stage play, and the Fantastic Beasts five-film series. Harry Potter New York will be part of an expanding portfolio of Warner Bros. owned Wizarding World experiences that include Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter and Platform 9 ¾ retail shops.
"We are very excited to be opening in New York," says Sarah Roots, SVP Worldwide Tours and Retail, Warner Bros. "It's the ideal city in which to launch with so many dedicated Wizarding World fans, a cutting-edge retail environment and a community that embraces innovative experiences. This will be the largest dedicated Harry Potter store in the world and will become a must-visit fan destination where Harry Potter enthusiasts can engage with interactive experiences and numerous photo opportunities as they step into the magic."
